WELLS, BENJAMIN (1824-81) was born at Plumstead, Kent, his father being employed in the Ordnance Department at Woolwich. As a youth he was much interested in natural history, and had a good knowledge of botany, besides being a competent classical scholar with a facility in languages. Before leaving England he contributed to the natural history of Woolwich. He came to New Zealand in the Cornwall in 1849 and took up land in Taranaki (appearing on the roll as a cordwainer). On the outbreak of the Maori war the family withdrew to New Plymouth, and eventually to Nelson, while he served in the militia. Belonging to a strong dissenting family, Wells conformed in early life to the doctrines of the Church of Scotland; but in 1854 he was accepted as a lay preacher by the Primitive Methodist Society. He continued acting until his death, having by this time become almost undenominational, and he conducted services in the backblocks whenever they were required. For a short while he acted as schoolmaster in Nelson, and he was always thereafter closely identified with education. He was chairman of the first Taranaki education board (under a provincial ordinance) and afterwards under the national system (1877-81); and until his death was chairman of the school commissioners. In 1874, after revisiting England, he became editor of the Taranaki News. He was a member and afterwards treasurer of the harbour board.

Wells in 1878 published a History of Taranaki. He died on 7 Jun 1881.

Cycl. N.Z., vi; Taranaki News, 8 Jun 1881; Wells. Portrait: Taranaki Hist. Coll.

Reference: Volume 2, page 242

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